2014 World Cup

[Norgy]

Yeah, simulation is a cardable offense. It's entirely up to the referee though, so there's a lot of variation in actual calls.

Honestly, soccer is the "least fair" major sport, yet I still enjoy it far more than football or basketball. I'm also the type of guy who defended Suarez's handball-preventing-goal against Ghana in 2010. I would have done the same thing 100 times out of 100.

It's true, and it's probably also the reason why there's such an enormous amount of moralism among footsoccerball fans about "the right way to play". There are no points for style in the game, yet so many insist there is. That losing playing pretty football and fair is somewhat better than drawing after having played cynically and dirty. Table shows: 1 point for cynicism and dirtiness, 0 for beauty and fairness.

I belong in the first category of fans, by the way.  And I readily accept that you probably won't win a trophy without luck and cynicism, yet I would be more comfortable in 4th place having played The Right Way.

[PDH]

The game should be about movement and flow, which is why replays won't work well (other than goals) and why the ref needs to be on top of such things as diving and injury faking.  Perhaps it is difficult to see at first, but the game should have a flow that not only is the ball movement but also the movement of the players around, the shape of the defense, the outstanding individual moves, and the teamwork to create offside whistles.

My girlfriend, who is not a sports person in the least, was watching with me this past week and she said "the camera view seems a lot further out," as more of the play and the potential play was in view.  That is one of the major differences to me about soccer - it is more than the ball.

Because of this, I am with Norgy.  The game should flow, it should be played right and proper, and it should be beautiful.

[Josephus]

bandwagoners  And USAians discussing the merits of red cards and penalties is cute.

Not as cute as seeing them discuss the fine art of goal difference. Too bad there's no away-goals rule in this tournament

[Josephus]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-panelist-obama-world-cup-distraction

It's all Obamas' fault

[FunkMonk]

Fan reaction to Ronaldo's goal in the 2-2 draw.

http://youtu.be/FU5karXZacg

[Grey Fox]

Why not?

Who cares if an attacker pitches camp by the corner flag?

Because you can't do forward passes.

[HVC]

Fan reaction to Ronaldo's goal in the 2-2 draw.

http://youtu.be/FU5karXZacg

i was watching that game with a while room of Americans chanting USA for the last minute and then portugal scored and it went quiet. Only me and another guy across the room shouted out. Everyone looked at me and I quickly walked out

[dps]

The game should be about movement and flow, which is why replays won't work well (other than goals) and why the ref needs to be on top of such things as diving and injury faking.  Perhaps it is difficult to see at first, but the game should have a flow that not only is the ball movement but also the movement of the players around, the shape of the defense, the outstanding individual moves, and the teamwork to create offside whistles.

My girlfriend, who is not a sports person in the least, was watching with me this past week and she said "the camera view seems a lot further out," as more of the play and the potential play was in view.  That is one of the major differences to me about soccer - it is more than the ball.

Because of this, I am with Norgy.  The game should flow, it should be played right and proper, and it should be beautiful.

I agree.  Heck, I don't even much like replay in American football, 'cause it stops the momentum of the game.

[sbr]

At least American football has very little momentum anyway.

[Norgy]

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/fox-panelist-obama-world-cup-distraction

It's all Obamas' fault

Well, he's got the "Dr." thing, just like Mengele, and he's on Fox News, so he'll probably turn up floating around dead in Brazil in 20 years' time.

[alfred russel]

The game should be about movement and flow, which is why replays won't work well (other than goals) and why the ref needs to be on top of such things as diving and injury faking.  Perhaps it is difficult to see at first, but the game should have a flow that not only is the ball movement but also the movement of the players around, the shape of the defense, the outstanding individual moves, and the teamwork to create offside whistles.

My girlfriend, who is not a sports person in the least, was watching with me this past week and she said "the camera view seems a lot further out," as more of the play and the potential play was in view.  That is one of the major differences to me about soccer - it is more than the ball.

Because of this, I am with Norgy.  The game should flow, it should be played right and proper, and it should be beautiful.

I agree.  Heck, I don't even much like replay in American football, 'cause it stops the momentum of the game.

If we are talking cards, you don't have to stop the game. Simply let it go and announce any cards / revocation of cards at the next stoppage.

[Norgy]

That's the best practice, although rarely practised.

[PDH]

If we are talking cards, you don't have to stop the game. Simply let it go and announce any cards / revocation of cards at the next stoppage.

The problem is that cards impact the game, but so does egregious play.  When a "card causing" foul ends up with the wrong team having the ball, then the game must be stopped.  In recent years the "play on" seems to be more a part of the game when a non-card foul happens and the "right team" has the possession.

[Zoupa]

Anyway everybody tune in on the 8th of July when France ends yet another Brazilian World Cup.

Marry me 

[FunkMonk]

The French team will parade down the Champs-Élysées on Bastille Day carrying the World Cup.